Editorial-Extravagance or simplicity?

As we enter a season which a market driven world has turned into a shopping and spending spree with displays of extravagance,

hypocritical protagonists of Commonwealth principles

The controversial CHOGM meeting has drawn to a close and we have heard ad nauseam, the term `Commonwealth Principles/values’ and of the alleged need for us to change our ways and abide by them.

Lessons Learnt at C'wealth forum

A sigh of relief - CHOGM is mercifully over– but watch for the fallout. Whether a supporter or detractor: unconcerned or uncommitted: that is immaterial- it is the aftermath that matters.

Felling of trees to pay EPF, ETF - Editorial

It was  worrisome to read the news item in our sister paper ‘The Sunday Times’ that the Cabinet had approved a proposal by State Resources and Enterprise Development Minister Dayasritha Tissera to.........

TRIBUTE TO A GREAT MISSIONARY MONK OF OUR DAY - VEN. SARADA, CHIEF PRELATE SINGAPORE

Five important Buddhist publications will be officially presented to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, by the Author Ven. Weragoda Sarada Nayaka Maha Thero, Chief Prelate Singapore.

Musaeus to Mirusuvil Building Bridges, North to South

Radio show host and author Steve Maraboli once said a kind gesture has the ability to reach a wound that only compassion can heal. . . Sri Lanka is presently healing a wound inflicted by an atrocious war that festered and ravaged the country for over three decades.

WE ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW - Namal Rajapaksa

MP Namal Rajapaksa in his first interview to the English media gives a brief insight into his perspective and thoughts on a wide range of issues...

Fighting poverty in Munnakkaraya Community-based organisation in Negombo wins global award

The Mun­nak­kar­aya Co­op­er­a­tive So­ci­ety in Ne­gom­bo has been se­lec­ted to re­ceive this year’s Help for Self-Help glob­al award, be­com­ing the first Sri Lan­kan or­gan­i­sa­tion to win such rec­og­ni­tion.

Over 800 Inventors at ‘Sahasak Nimevum 2013’

Over 800 Sri Lankan inventors will display their inventions and innovations at the National Invention Exhibition, from November 30 to December 2 at the BMICH from 10 am to 5 pm.

CHOGM converted itself into a cheap holiday on government money

The United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Ravi Karunananayake, recently spoke to Daily Mirror expressing his views on the budget discussions, the aftermath of.........

The need to search for missing persons Submission to the Commission to Investigate Complaints Regard

In terms of the invitation published in the Media under your hand, dated 31st October 2013, calling for written submissions, I am pleased to make the under-noted submissions:

Slippery bananas - Editorial

In the fiery days of the cold war, some South American countries were known as banana republics because of their close links with the United States. That was in a figurative sense, but Sri Lanka appears to be going that way in a...........

Asia flashpoint for first nuclear war

Are we on the threshold of a world war? The current war-like activities in the East China Sea involving three big powers – the United States, China and Japan – are probably dragging the world in that direction.

North Korea, Iran and the USA The man in the middle

With a continuation of mutual willpower, the present accord should be a success and likewise the negotiations for a comprehensive, final agreement.

A matter of justice - Editorial

All three suspects in connection with the killing of a police constable and his wife in Matara have died within a week or so. One suspect was shot dead by the police when he allegedly tried to shoot at them while the other two had drowned in their attempt to escape.

Another first in Sri Lankan Medical History

For the first time in the med­i­cal his­to­ry of Sri Lan­ka an op­er­a­tion was per­formed to re­move a can­cer­ous growth ex­tend­ing from the rec­tum to­ the liv­er, us­ing the Lap­a­ro­scop­ic  An­te­ri­or  Re­sec­tion and Par­ti­al Hep­a­tec­to­my meth­od.

Revamping of an age-old concept ‘Learning by Teaching’ Striving to create an invaluable workforce

Grad­u­ate un­em­ploy­ment is at­trib­uted by some an­a­lysts to the poor con­tent of de­gree pro­grammes be­ing of­fered and the out­da­ted teach­ing meth­ods adop­ted.  Against this back­drop, the High­er Ed­u­ca­tion Min­is­try, as.....

A tribute to Dr. Joyce Gunawardene

Eight months have passed since the passing away of Dr. Joyce Gunawardene, former Consultant Microbiologist, National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS). Kalutara . Her death occurred silently as.....

Taking a long view of federal formula and power sharing

TNA has placed its testament of federalism as the Statement of its Policy at the Northern Provincial Council Election held on 11th October 2013. The voters have fully endorsed it and gave them 30 seats out of 38 seats of the Council.

Dear public sector workers, good manners please!

Of what use is infrastructural development when the social fabric has been virtually destroyed and human dignity has been thrown into the gutters? We are long past the era of values, manners, ethics and etiquette.  The most regretful is its absence in the state sector institutions.

Murali delivered it to ‘chuck’ Cameron’s cynicism away

Years after retiring as cricket’s most successful bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan captured headlines recently for different reasons, contradicting British Prime Minister David Cameron and the controversial Channel 4  television station and stirring a political storm in the process.

A gamble with casinos - Editorial

If wealth, property and possessions are giving us security, success, prestige and power in life, then it means we are worshipping money in the end. Indian writer and social activist Arundathi Roy has described this present trend as the fifth major religion in the world.

Post chogm Cloud that overshadows the chogm

Our ‘enemies’ the Diaspora  who, yearning to avenge 1956, 1972 and 1983  suffered a huge defeat when we wiped out the LTTE which they had supported with arms and money; after the.....

Sir John D’Oyly drafted the Kandyan Convention

A Prince of Wales set foot on Kandyan soil after one hundred-and-forty years, the last being in 1873. Prince Charles visited Kandy during his stay in the island for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Tribute to a Doyen of creativity: Dr. Tissa Abeysekara

Deshabandu Dr. Tissa Abeysekara, my school mate at Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya in the early 1950’s, and since then my friend for nearly six decades has departed, leaving an indelible impression of awe and admiration in the minds of all Sri Lankans devoted to indigenous culture, literature and the arts.

The ‘huge dichotomy of disjuncture” In simple words, ‘seeing is believing’

Many people are impressed by how Chris Nonis, our high commissioner to the UK, handled the CNN live TV interview conducted by Fred Pleitgen. They are impressed by his superb knowledge of English, presumably not his first language.

Is Sri Lanka heading towards a class war?

The 2014 Budget of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is an opening for a class war. Though it addresses many subjects such as infrastructure, health, education, business, banking, agriculture, fisheries, housing, pensions and anything and everything, it cannot conceal the essential class nature.

Bulls' eye for Kiribanda - Editorial

In the aftermath of the recent controversy over the import of powdered milk to the value of a staggering Rs. 45,000 million, President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the 2014 Budget outlined proposals to revive the local dairy milk industry.

The British created SL ethnic strife - Champika Ranawaka

Minister of Technology and Research and the General Secretary of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) spoke to the Daily Mirror on issues resulting from the recently concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and other issues

Defence Counsel’s Obligation; A New Legal Paradigm

US judge’s order “Shocking Development in Law” and “Recourse to Judgment” if you are ill-represented. US Court of Appeal orders fresh trial, as the Judge felt the defence counsel did not represent his client adequately in this case.